Fredericksburg Free Press: Spanberger, city officials celebrate $637K investment in emergency operations

U.S. Representative Abigail Spanberger joined Fredericksburg officials and community leaders Thursday to celebrate the federal funding secured for local projects as part of a U.S. House and U.S. Senate-passed fiscal year 2024 appropriations bill. The investment in this community-requested project totals $637,195 signed into law and now headed to the city.

Spanberger worked directly with Fredericksburg leaders to solicit this request, move this project forward, and ensure it was included in the final package. This investment will help the city make renovations, security enhancements, and equipment upgrades at the Emergency Operations Center (EOC).

“Over the last year, my office and I have been proud to work directly with Fredericksburg officials, Chief Layton and the Fredericksburg Police Department, and community leaders to secure this funding for the Emergency Operations Center. The City of Fredericksburg identified the need for these federal dollars — and together we are delivering for every Virginian who calls this region home.” Spanberger said in a news release.

“This federal investment will make sure that the public servants and public safety employees who work hard to keep their community safe have the support they need to quickly relay information, respond in emergency situations, and get help to their neighbors. I’m grateful to our local partners for their commitment to public safety and for their advocacy on behalf of the Fredericksburg community.”

“We are grateful for Representative Spanberger’s successful efforts to bring federal funding support to the City of Fredericksburg’s public safety services. Our Emergency Operations Center is a critical component of Fredericksburg’s emergency response and these funds will assist with important upgrades for improved communications, and protection of personnel and property. Such funding opportunities are an important investment in our community, and help offset the cost of the City’s core infrastructure priorities,” Fredericksburg Mayor Kerry Devine said in the release. “The city recently worked with the Federal Economic Development Authority at Riverfront Park and received a $1.2 million award, and with the Commonwealth of Virginia on wastewater treatment plant upgrades support – receiving three awards totaling $56 million. The city is grateful for our proactive legislative delegations, both in Richmond and Washington, for their continued support of Fredericksburg.”

Spanberger secured $637,195 for Fredericksburg to upgrade security at the EOC and the E-911 Emergency Communications Center. This investment will allow for the installation of new monitors and computer workstations to improve decision-making and access to records, files, and electronic communications by EOC personnel. This funding will also allow the City of Fredericksburg to install new consoles for dispatchers to manage an increased number of calls and maintain lines with first responders during emergency situations.

For FY2024, the U.S. House of Representatives allowed for specific Community Project Funding requests — as it did in FY2023. Spanberger worked directly with community leaders in localities across Virginia’s Seventh District to gather community-focused requests for her submissions. Click here for the full list of her submissions.

The Community Project Funding process was created to ensure that Members of Congress — in concert with the communities they represent — may submit direct applications for federal funding to support locally planned projects as part of the yearly appropriations process.

To be eligible, projects must be sponsored by local or state government entities or non-profit organizations and must be projects that would otherwise meet the qualifications to apply for federal grant funding. The purpose of Community Project Funding is to ensure direct, local engagement as part of the federal appropriations process. In line with this goal, funding applications needed to demonstrate significant local support for the projects.